Ethiopia’s opposition leaders be held for 10 More Days – court
Nov 21, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — A special court ordered leaders of Ethiopia’s main opposition party kept in custody when they appeared in court Monday for preliminary proceedings ahead of possible trial on treason charges.
The suspects were detained during political unrest that claimed the lives of at least 46 people early this month. Another 42 died in June in similar protests over the disputed May 15 election. The protests began after the main opposition parties accused authorities of rigging the polls that returned the ruling party to power.
The suspects were among thousands detained during the subsequent crackdown. They were first taken in court Nov. 7 for a closed hearing in the same special court where members of a toppled military dictatorship were being tried. A judge ordered that they should be held for 14 days to allow police to continue with investigations.
On Monday, police asked for more time to carry out investigations, claiming that the crime was complex and investigations ongoing countrywide against leaders of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy.
The court ordered the 19 opposition leaders, three journalists and one person from the local teachers association held for another 10 days.
Lead defense lawyer Getachew Kitaw asked for bail, arguing “our clients are respectful elders in the society, many of them were only civil servants and teachers who have never committed a crime in their lives.”
But the three judges did not respond to the request.
Some are expected to face treason charges for their alleged part in orchestrating the riots, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said this month. Authorities said they have now freed more than 8,954 detainees who were found not to be directly involved in the violence.
(AP/ST)